Convertible apparatus for use in care of infants and for other purposes



Dec. 8, 1953 R. LAUFER 2,661,791 F CONVERTIBLE APPARATUS FOR USE IN CARE OF INFANTS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Filed July 29, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 8, 1953 R. LAUFER CONVERTIBLE APPARATUS FOR USE IN CARE OF INFANTS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Filed July 29, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 8, 1953 2,661,791

R. LAUFER CONVERTIBLE APPARATUS FOR USE IN CARE OF INFANTS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Filed July 29, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 8, 1953 R. LAUFER 2,561,791

CONVERTIBLE APPARATUS FOR USE IN CARE OF INFANTS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Filed July 29', 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 8, 1953 CQNVERTIBLE APPARATUS FOR USE IN CARE OF ENFANTS AND FOR OTHER PUE- POSES Roger Laufer, Louisville, Ky

Application July 29, 1947, Serial No. 764,300

This invention relates to an apparatus which is readily convertible so as to subserve a plurality of functions in connection with the care of infants, for example to serve as a stroller, a high chair, etc., and also preferably to render the same available to perform yet other services as will appear hereinafter.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus of the character described which may be easily set up as a stroller, baby buggy or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus as just referred to wherein the body portion for carrying the infant is pivotally suspended from the frame so that it will maintain a substantially horizontal position in all positions to which the frame may be tilted.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device of the type last characterized wherein the location of the pivotal suspension with respect to the body portion may be readily adjusted so as to maintain the desired balance.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character described wherein the body portion may be readily repositioned so as to convert the apparatus into a high chair.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character above referred to wherein the body portion has a seat section provided with an adjustable back rest which may be readily secured at a variety of inclinations.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character above referred to wherein the back rest may be readily located in a variety of positions in the fore and aft direction of the seat.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus or the character above referred to wherein the back rest may be readily removed and relocated at the front of the body portion as when converting the body portion into a buggy,'bed, cradle or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character above referred to wherein the back rest may be readily removed and relocated to function as a sunshade.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character described wherein the body portion is provided with an extensible section so that when desired a compartment may be formed at the rear of the body portion to receive packages or the like.

15 Claims. (Cl. 155-44) Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device of the type last referred to wherein'the center of suspension may be readily adjusted so as to maintain balance under varying" degrees of extension, varying weights, etc.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character above referred to which includes an extensible body portion that may be readily converted into a baby buggy, or a bed or cradle, or removed from the frame and constitute a bed or bassinet.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character above referred to wherein the extension section has a removable back member which may be repositioned to extend the length of the compartment in the body portion.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character above referred to which includes an extensible body portion which may be readily converted into a container for the convenient transportation of various articles.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character described wherein upon removal of the body portion the frame becomes a hand truck that can be used for the ready transportation of various articles.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character described wherein the seat section of the body portion is provided with a pivoted foot-rest that may be readily adjusted to different angles.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character described wherein the body portion may be readily converted into an infants chair that can be easily mounted on an automobile seat, an ordinary chair, etc.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character described wherein the body portion is so constructed that it may be readily used as an infants nursery chair.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparauts of the character described which includes a suspended extensible body portion that may be readily adjusted to attain balance by merely lowering the body portion onto the ground and moving the frame with respect thereto.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character described which is so constructed that it is highly stable under all of its various conditions of use.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character described which may be converted to its several uses without requiring the use of tools or special skill.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved apparatus of the character described which is simple in construction so that it may be produced at reasonable cost, and which is strong and durable.

Other objects of this invention will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions only one of which is illustrated on the accompanying drawings, and it is therefore to be expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only, and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein the same reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts in the several figures;

Fig. 1 is a perspective elevation of the wheeled frame;

Fig. 1a is an enlarged cross section on the line ia lc of Fig. 1;

Fig. 1b is a corresponding cross section on the line lbib of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus conditioned to act as a stroller;

Fig. 2a is an enlarged cross sectional detail at one of the two pivotal suspensions of the body portion;

Fig. 2b is an enlarged cross sectional detail through one of the ways by which the extension section of the body portion is telescopically mounted on the seat section of the body portion;

Fig. 2c is an enlarged detail to show the lock for the extension section;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the apparatus conditioned to function as a high chair;

Fig. 3a is an enlarged sectional detail to show how the body portion cooperates with the brace rod when serving as a high chair;

Fig. 3b is a corresponding cross sectional detail Cal in diameter as shown at 13 in Fig. lb and extend through apertures in the frame portions H, wherein they may be secured in any suitable way as by welding. The outwardly projecting extensions of said reduced portions it constitute stationary axles for small wheels IQ of any suitable size, material and construction. As shown, said wheels are formed of rubber mounted on suitable hub structures 20, and said wheels are secured on the rod extensions I8 in any suitable way, said extensions being shown as threaded at their outer extremities and provided with one or more nuts 2! for retaining the wheels thereon.

The curved portions I 2 are preferably so located with respect to the portions H that an additional rod 22 mounted therein, and preferably of identical construction as the rod I7, is disposed in a plane somewhat higher than the plane of the two rods ll. Rod 22 extends through apertures in the frame portions 12 and has reduced exterior extensions, analogous to the extensions I3, forming stationary axles for another pair of wheels 23 which are preferably of the same size and construction as the wheels I9 and retained on the said extensions in the same way. Thereby the wheels 23 are somewhat raised above the surto show how the body portion cooperates with the k;

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view to show the component parts of the body portion;

Fig. 4a is an enlarged sectional detail through the lower wall of the seat portion;

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sections to illustrate alternative constructions for adjusting the location of the pivotal suspension of the body portion; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view to reduced scale to illustrate an attachment that may be used with the seat section.

Referring first to Figs. 1, la and lb, the frame I!) is shown as of parallel forked construction and may be made of any suitable material to provide the requisite stiffness and rigidity, as for example aluminum tubing. The frame It: is generally composed of a base portion, having straight end portions N that are curved upwardly at l2 and continued by straight portions 13, and of a handle portion connected to the base portion by forward- 1y curved portions l4 and having upwardly and rearwardly inclined side portions f5 connected at the top by a transverse handle bar I6. The first referred to portions H are connected by one or more transverse rods l1, here shown as two in number, and the ends of said rods are reduced face engaged by the wheels 9 for a purpose to be explained. The portions l3 of the frame, either by reason of the extent of curvature of the portions l2 or by reason of the inclination of said portions 13 with respect to end portions H, join the curved portions It at a height above the surface engaged by the wheels l9 that is appropriate to the diameter of the large wheels 25 which constitute the main wheels of the structure.

Wheels 25 may be of any suitable size and construction, as ordinary spokecl wheels preferably with rubber tires, or as shown more Particularly in Fig. la they may take the form of pressed or cast disks 2!: having curved rims 2'! for receiving rubber tires 28. If desired, said wheels may be mounted on a shaft extending between the portions it of the frame, but to leave the space between the sides of the frame it open for a purpose to be explained, and also to mount said large wheels flexibly so that they may yield when going over rough ground, each of said wheels is preferably mounted at the outside of the frame It by the construction now to be described. Secured to each frame portion 13 in any suitable way, as by a bolt or screw 3!}, is a generally L-shaped bracket 3! suitably grooved to receive the frame portion Hi. The arm 32 of said bracket extends rearwardly in a generally horizontal direction and is provided with an interiorly threaded hub portion 33. Rotatably mounted in said hub portion 33 is a rod having a threaded end 34, said rod exteriorly of said hub portion being bent forwardly approximately parallel to the frame portion l3 as shown at 35 so as to form a crank and terminating in a right angularly extending portion 36 which constitutes a stub shaft for the wheel 25. The other arm 3'! of said bracket 3! extends downwardly and has a right angularly extending portion 38 in which is threadedly mounted a screw 39 apertured at its extremity to receive the end of a coil spring 9 that, at its opposite end, is hooked over the stub shaft 35 as shown at ll. Wheel 25 has a suitable hub structure 12 and is retained on the stub shaft 36 in any suitable way as by a nut 43. A suitable guard is also shown as secured on the end of the stub shaft 36 by a cap nut at. As the axis of the spring 40 is approximately vertical the spring is so disposed that the wheel 25 may yield upwardly rotating around the axis defined by the threaded end as, but tilting of the frame It on the wheels as imposes no substantial tension on said spring to be overcome.

The curved portions is of the frame extend forwardly so that the upwardly inclined portions E5 of said are so located that the supports mounted thereon, next to be described, are so disposed with respect to the rectangle of support defined by the wheels iii and. 25 that the center of gravity of the parts suspended from or mounted on said supports is well forward of the axis of the wheels thereby providing maximum stability when the frame is supported on the wheels is and 25. From the portions M the side portions 55 incline rearwardly at approximately or on the order of an angle of 77 from the plane of the surface engaged by the wheels is and 25, although this angle may be varied by a few degrees in either direction. Mounted in each of said side portions is at or near the center of gravity of the wheeled frame structure and at a height above the surface engaged by the wheels is and 55 such that the body portion. of the apparatus when suspended as hereinafter explained will have the desired freedom of swinging movement even though the frame be tilted rearwardly around the axis of the wheels 25 when manipulating the apparatus as a two-wheeled vehicle, are a pair of aligned pivotal supports 4?. As shown more particularly in Fig. 2a, each pivotal support ll comprises a shank as passed through an aperture in the frame portion l5 and threaded at its outer end so whereby it is secured firmly in position by a cap nut Ell. At the inner side of the frame portion 55 the outwardly projecting extension of the shank it is enlarged in diameter as shown at El for a purpose to be explained While the end 52 of said shank is of smaller diameter than the portion 5! and constitutes the active pivotal support. By reason of the before described construction and inclination of the frame the pivots 4? are thereby disposed so that when the wheels 19 and 25 are resting upon a horizontal surface the axis defined by said pivots A l is appropriately forward of the axis of the wheels 25 and at or near the center of gravity of the wheeled frame, so that a vertical line through the center of gravity of a weight suspended from said pivots will fall well within the r ctangle defined by said wheels is and 25 and afford maximum stability. At the same time the axis defined by said pivots il can be brought directly over the axis defined by the wheels 25, or slightly to the rear thereof, by tilting the frame is; about the axis of the wheels 25 to a position that is comfortable for the person pushing the vehicle on the wheels 25.

Disposed above the pivots ill, at a spacing therefrom determined by the height of the body portion when the apparatus is to function as a high chair as hereinafter explained, is a brace rod. secured to the frame portions IS in any suitable way, as by extending the end portions of rod, which may be reduced in diameter, through apertures in said frame and securing the rod in position by exterior nuts 55.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, the wheeled frame as so far described is adapted to ivotally suspend from the supports 4'! a body portion of generally rectangular but open top construction adapted to form an infants seat. While said body portion may be formed in any suitable way, in the preferred construction each side of the body portion includes a three-sided rectangular frame member 60 opening toward the rear and to which is secured in any suitable way, as by screws, welding, etc, a side'panel 6|, the side panels having formed integrally therewith, or otherwise suitably secured in position, an intermediate or bottom panel 62 constituting the seat proper. The upper member 63 of each frame 6i! (see Fig. 2a) is of generally I-shaped construction in cross section except that the recess- Fig. 2b) is of generally L-shaped construction in cross section except that the recess at the outer face of the frame member has a downwardly extending ledge 61 so as to provide a groove 6%; for a purpose to be explained.

Each frame 6!! also carires a socket member for engagement with a pivot 41. While as respects the broader aspects of this invention a single socket may be provided at each side of the body portion, properly disposed with respect to the center of gravity thereof so that when suspended from the pivots the body portion will maintain substantially horizontal position, it is preferred to have the pivotal axis of suspension adjustable with respect to the body portion so that the latter may be varied to obtain the desired balance under difierent conditions of use, and this provision for adjustment becomes necessary when, as preferred, the body portion is provided with an adjustable extension section rearwardly of the seat section that may be used in carrying packages, because of the change in the center of gravity of the body portion that arises when the extension section is brought into service. Therefore, as shown, a socket member l0, which may take the form of a die casting, is secured in any suitable way as by screws or rivets H to the upper face of the member es of each frame 69, and preferably extends for at least the larger portion of the length of said member 63 for a purpose which will appear. Each socket member To has at its outer face an overhanging ledge l2 spaced from the lower portion '53 of said member it? so as to provide a slot or groove M (see Fig. 2a) which is open at both ends and extends for the full length of said member 10. The under face of each overhanging ledge '12 is provided with any suitable number of recesses l5 of a size to receive and. coact pivotally with the active portion 52 of a pivot 41. Thereby, by lifting the body portion slightly so as to disengage the acting socket '85 from the pivot portion 52, until the latter is disposed in the groove Hi, the body portion may be moved forwardly or rearwardly to engage a dif ferent socket 15 with the pivot portion 52, changing the axis of suspension with respect to the body portion so as to bring said axis into the desired relationship to the center of gravity of the body portion and its load.

While the foregoing constitutes a convenient provision for adjusting the axis of suspension any other suitable means serving this same end may be employed. Thus as shown in Fig. 5, the socket member may take the form of an elongated channel-shaped member in which is slidably mounted a block 3! having an outwardly opening recess $2 in the under face of whose upper wall is a socket 83 comparable to the socket 15. The block 5i may he slid longitudinally in the channel of the member in any suitable as manually or by a screw, and it may be locked in position 'in-any suitable way,- as by a pin insertable through suitable apertures in the channel memier into arecess in th block ill or by provid in the block an upwardly extending threaded pin 8t working in a slot 85 in the channel member 3G and having a wing nut 88 threaded therein. Again, shown in Fig. 8, the end portion'of the ivot may be extended as shown at and carry a pinion 8% rotatably mounted thereon for cooperation with teeth 39 provided on the under face of the upper wall of a channelshaped member'tt secured to the upper member 53 of each fram To look the pinion 88 in adjusted position may be provided with a suitable mimber of circumferentially arranged recesses ti and the enlarged portion El of the pivot may be made non-circular in cross section and carry all .oly mounted thereon a collar 92 having an outwardly projecting pin 83 which may be enga god in any recess i i to lock the pinion against rotation, Other suitable provisions for adjusting the pi otal axis of suspension with respect to th body portion will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

The body portion as so far described constitutes a seat section and is preferably provided with an adjustable back rest. In the form shown said back rest takes the form or" a panel 86 of a width loosely fitting the space between the two sides of the seat section and of a height so that it will subserve its desired function at various inclinations. Secured to the rear face of said panel 95, at each side thereof adjacent the bottom edge of the panel, a sliding bolt 92, and each side panel 6! is provided near its bottom edge with any suitable number of apertures in which a bolt 9'! be engaged, whereby the lower portion of the panel 56 may be variously positioned. The upper portion of the panel 95 is also preferably adjustable to various positions, and to this end (see particularly Fig. 4) the upper face of each socket member ii? is provided with any suitable number of notches and a rod its having a U-shaped bend at each end as shown at it! may be passed downwardly over the panel 95 until the two legs of each U-shaped extremity engage in a pair of adjacent notches 53. By variously positioning the slide bolts 97 with respect to their apertures Q and variously positioning the rod Hill with respect to the notches 98 the back rest may thus be given any desired inclination and located in a variety of positions in the fore and aft direction of the seat section to vary the depth of the seat. Also the panel 525 may be located at the extreme forward end of the seat section, as is sometimes desirable when converting the body portion into a bed or cradle or th vehicle into a buggy for an infant in horizontal position. The panel 96 may also be entirely removed from the seat section, and its slide bolts projected to their outermost position and engaged with aligned notches 99 to form a sunshade, in which position its end opposite the end carrying the bolts may rest on the rod [fill engaged with suitable notches 59, or on the chest bumper rod to be described, depending upon whether the bolts are engaged with notches at one end or the other of the socket members 18.

In the form shown the seat section is also provided with a readily removable chest bumper rod i233 which may be provided with pads or wooden protectors Hi l, in which event the latter are spaced at the center of the rod, as shown at I85, and from the ends of the rod, as shown at 106 in Fig. 30, for purposes to be explained. Rod [93 is preferably constructed so that it can be readily 8., inserted and removed-and to this end it has right angularly bent end portions Hi1, and the vertical members 198 of the frames 68 are provided with apertures Hi9 and sockets H0, so that the bent extremities of the rod [83 may be introduced into the apertures we and lowered into the sockets H8 to lock the rod against displacement. The

seat section is also preferably provided with a pivotally mounted and adjustable iootrest. As shown, said footrest includes a rear panel H2 pivotally mounted in any suitable way at the forward edge of the bottom panel 62, as by means of a rod i it mounted in apertures in the side frames 68 and received in suitable loops formed on or attached to the panel l 12. Panel H2 has attached thereto or formed integrally therewith a foot panel H5 and also, if desired, side panels H6. Foot panel H5 has a slot H'l through which a strap l 15 may be passed (see particularly Fig. 2), and the strap is also passed around the central portion of the bumper rod IE3. By variously adjusting the length of the strap the footrest may be brought up to various angles, or to a horizontal position, or to higher positions. An alternative method of threading the strap H8, when the seat portion is to be used as a stroller, or as a high chair, is to pass strap I I8 from portion I95 of chest bar I63 vertically down through slot I I3 in seat panel 52, under the bottom of the footrest, up around the footrest and back to portion Hi5. The seat section is also preferably provided with a readily removable tray. As shown in Fig. 3, a tray 1'28 of any suitable size and construction is provided at its sides with hook-shaped extensions 12! adapted to engage over the bumper rod 193 at the end portion Hi6 thereof. The under side of the tray is also provided in any suitable way at each side thereof with outwardly extending lugs I22 for engagement with the forward faces of the vertical members 183 of the frames 68 so as to retain the tray in horizontal position. As shown, the lugs I22 and hook-shaped extensions [2| are formed on bracket members 523 suitably secured to the bottom face of the 7 tray. If desired, the side panels iii may also have appropriate arm rests $25 attached thereto in any suitable way.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the seat section as so far described is removable from its pivotal suspension and mountable on the brace rod 55 and the pivotal supports so as to constitute the seat of a high chair. To this end the upper members 33 of the frames 69 project rearwardly beyond the side panels 6! and at their lower faces are provided with notches H! of a size adapted to receive the brace rod 55. Similarly, the under faces of the lower members 66 of the frames 60 are provided with notches L28 adapted to receive the extremities 52 of the pivots 47, the brace rod 5-5 being disposed above the pivots 4! by such a distance that when the recesses I21 are engaged with said brace rod the recesses simultaneously engage the pivots ii, and the recesses I23 being disposed forwardly of the recesses I2? by such an amount that when the-wheels l9 and 25 are in engagement with a horizontal surface the seat section will have its bottom panel 6?. in a substantially horizontal plane when the seat section is thus supported on rod 55 and supports 4?. The seat section is now locked rigidly in position by the engagement of the upper and lower side frame members with the brace bar 55 and pivots ll, and it projects over the rectangle of support provided by the wheels 49- and 25 so that its center of gravity is disposed approximately over the center of said rectangle to provide maximum stability.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the body portion is also provided with an extension section which is telescopically mounted over the seat section so that it may be collapsed inwardly so as to add little to the volume occupied by the seat section or pulled outwardly to various extents up to approximately doubling the interior space of the body portion. As appears more particularly from Fig. 4, the extension section also takes the form of a generally rectangular but open topped body having three-sided rectangular side frames 433 open toward the front and to which are attached in any suitable way as by screws or weldingthe side panels lei and a bottom panel i3? integrally formed with the side panels or otherwise suitably secured in position. The upper members :33 of the side frames have at their inner edges downwardly extending ribs R34, and the lower members 535 of said frames have at their inner edges upwardly extending ribs [36, said upper and lower members E33 and E35 of the frames I36 being so spaced and the ribs 53% and 13d being so arranged that the side frames use may be slid freely in a fore and aft direction in the ways provided by the grooves 65 and 53 in the upper and lower members 53 and to? of the frames 65 (see Figs. 2a and 2b).

The extension section may have a fixed panel closing the rear end thereof, but a removable panel is preferred for some purposes, in which event a tie rod i3? may be used at the rear upper extremity of the extension section to give added rigidity thereto. As shown, the rear wall of the extension section is in the form of a panel I33 having integrally formed thereon or suitably attached thereto a bottom extension I35 and side extensions use. The rear face or panel I33 carrise at its opposite sides and at a suitable height thereon a pair of slide bolts lei, and suitable sockets R12 are mounted on the vertical members hit of the frames its for cooperation with said slide bolts. Bottom extension 939 of the rear panel is adapted to rest on the bottom panel I32 of the extension section when the slide bolts Hill are engaged in sockets i 32 whereby forward tilting of the rear panel about the axis of said slide bolts is prevented. The tie red It? as shown is so located that the rear panel i2 8 is disposed inside of the same when mounted in position, so that rearward movement of the panel its around the axis of said bolts is prevented. When the extension section is collapsed over the seat section the bottom extension ass of the rear panel I38 lies between the bottom panel 62 of the seat sectionand the bottom panel i3? of the extension section so that pivotal movement of said rear panel is prevented. When the extension section is moved outwardly with respect to the seat section the panel I33 may be removed and secured in any suitable way in contact with but projecting beyond the bottom panel I32, as by providing the frames 5 as with grooves or recess-es in which the slide bolts Ml may be engaged, so as to extend the length of the chamber in the body portion with the bottom extension E39 vertically disposed to form an end wall thereof.

When the extension is collapsed with respect to the seat section it is preferably locked against accidental displacement by means of a pivoted latch member M5 (see Fig. 20) mounted at M6 on one or both of the upper members of the frames be and having its nose engageable with ing frame I36. A similar recess M8 (see Fig. 2) may be disposed adjacent the forward end of the frame 30 to cooperate with the latch I45 and lock the extension in its fully extended position, and one or more intermediate recesses ass may be provided on the frame 38 for cooperation with said latch to lock the extension section in intermediate positions.

If desired, any suitable means may be also provided for locking the large wheels 25 against rotation. As shown, an L-shaped detent member it! is pivotally mounted at 152 on each frame portion l3 so that it may be swung at right angles to the frame and engaged with a spoke or one of the radially extending ribs I53 on each wheel, or swung parallelly to said frame to free the wheels for rotation.

As shownmore particularly in Figs. 4 and 4a, the bottom panel 62 of the seat section may have an aperture i til normally occupied by a cover Hit. The periphery of said aperture its is slightly depressed at i$2 so that when the periphery of the cover it! is seated in said depression said,

cover is flush with the remainder of panel 62. The periphery of said aperture sec may have a depending flange its and tabs i5 3 may be out out of the cover and bent downwardly for frictional engagement with the flange hit, the openings E thereby provided in the cover forming finger holes to aid in removal of the cover it i.

When the seat section is removed from the frame it it may be provided with an attachment as shown in Fig. 7 for suspending the seat section from the back of an automobile seat, the back of a chair, etc. As shown a pair of arms Ht have hook-shaped ends ill and are spaced by a cross member H2 so that screws N3 in the opposite ends of said arms, and which if desired may be of identical construction as the pivots 47, may be engaged in appropriate recesses 15 in the socket members 783. Thereby the seat section may be suspended against the back of a seat or chair by hooking the ends I'H over its upper edge,

forming a chair that may be readily moved from place to place.

To explain the several uses to which the foregoing apparatus may be put and the services which it may perform, it will be observed in the first place that the wheeled frame as as it is shown in Fig. 1 constitutes a hand truck which may be readily used for moving bulky articles like trunks, or a carrier for golf bags, etc. The rods i! provide a horizontal support upon which the article to be transported may rest, while the rod 22, carried by the upwardly curved portions ll of the frame and preferably lying in .the same plane with the portions !5 of the frame, provides a back rest against which the lower edge or rear face of an article to be transported may be engaged, preventing it from slipping through the opening in the frame it when the frame is tilted about the axis of the wheels 25. The aforesaid elevation of the rod 22 with respect to the rods ll also places the wheels 23 higher than the wheels [9 so that when mounting a curb, a step or other compara ble elevation with the frametilted about the axis of the wheels 25, and therefore with the frame portions l I inclined upwardlyso that the wheels l9 are out of contact with the ground, the wheels 23 will engage the upper edge surface of the curb or other elevation and provide a rolling support and pivotal axis for the frame ahead of the large wheels, whereby movement of the frame onto a higher surface is greatly facilitated by a lever action lifting movement of the handle. This last described provision facilitating the movement of the frame upwardly with respect to an elevation is not only useful when the frame is being used as a hand truck but, as it functions in the same way, it has like utility in facilitating movement upwardly with respect to an elevation when the body portion is in position and the apparatus is being used as a stroller, baby bug y, shopping cart, etc.

The body portion, with or without the extension section thereon, may be readily mounted on the pivots 41 by introducing the latter through the open ends of the slots M and moving the body portion with respect to the pivots 41 to the proper position for obtaining a balanced condition, whereupon the pivots 4'! are engaged with the proper sockets 15 by lowering the body portion onto the end portions 52 of the pivots 47. The enlargements 54 on said pivots provide inwardly facing shoulders that are so spaced that they cooperate with the outer faces of the upper members of the side frames 60 and lock the body portion between said shoulders so that the body portion cannot be displaced laterally by any movement of the infant. Thereby the body portion is pivotally suspended adjacent its upper edge so that it will maintain a horizontal position to whatever extent the frame it may be tilted, the pivots 41 being disposed at such an elevation with regard to the size of the body portion that under the most extreme tilting of the frame likely to occur the rods l1 and 22 will not interfere with the pivotal movement of the body portion. At

the same time, by reason of the location of the pivotal mounting of the body portion with respect to its height the body portion will have only a slow rate of oscillation about its pivotal supports 41, and cannot be made to swing rapidly or to large angles by movements of the infant. It will also be observed that the body portion is of the same construction at both sides so that it may be mounted on the pivots 41 with the seat facing either forwardly or rearwardly as may be preferred.

Owing to the forward disposition of the pivots 41 due to the curved portions l4 of the frame It! the axis of suspension is over but well inside of the rectangle of support provided by the wheels 19 and 25 when the latter are in engagement with the ground, but by a slight rearward tilting of the frame it about the axis of the wheels 25 the apparatus becomes a two-wheeled vehicle which may be readily rolled along the ground on the large wheels 25. A relatively small tilting of the frame It around the axis of the wheels 25 brings the axis of suspension provided by the pivots 4! directly over the axis of said wheels or slightly to the rear thereof so that the weight of the vehicle and its load tend to urge the vehicle forward. Thereby the vehicle may be moved with the minimum of effort because the frame can be tilted to that position about the axis of the wheels 25 wherein there is no sensation of upward or downward pull on the arms. I

By adjustment of the rear panel 96 through cooperation of the slide bolts 91 with the apertures 98 and the support rod [D with the notches 99 the back rest may be moved to various inclinations and disposed at various locations in a fore and aft direction to adapt the seat section to the size of the infant. As the rod we at its U-shaped extremities engages both the front and rear faces of the panel 96 the panel is at all times locked against pivotal movement about the bolts 9'! when said rod is engaged in the notches 99. The chest bumper rod it prevents the infant from moving forwardly out of the seat section, while forward pressure on the strap H8 tilts the footrest upwardly to prevent forward movement of the infant. The strap I [8 acts as a safety strap, passing between the legs of the infant, and by variously adjusting the length of this strap the footrest may be properly inclined to meet the needs of the infant.

When the apparatus is to be converted into a high chair the seat section need only be removed from the pivots ii, lifting it slightly to disengage the sockets '15 from the pivots 6! and then moving it until the pivots ll pass out of the slots M. The recesses 52? and [23 are then engaged with the brace rod 55 and pivots 6'5 as heretofore explained, in which position the seat section is mounted rigidly on upper and lower supports, while lateral movement of the seat section is again prevented by the cooperation of the inwardly facing shoulders on the enlarged portions iii of the pivots with the side frames 63 of the seat section. In this condition the back rest may be adjusted as before explained so as to provide the proper inclination and depth of seat, the footrest may be adjusted to suit the needs of the infant by adjustment of the strap H3, and a tray may be applied to the bumper rod 163 as before explained. Thereby the apparatus may be quickly converted into a high chair that is supported on wheels for ready movement, while the disposition of the center of gravity approximately over the center of the rectangle of support afforded by the wheels i9 and 25 assures maximum stability.

When an extension section of the body portion is provided said section may, when desired, be easily moved outwardly with respect to the seat section, the ribs :3 and I36 sliding in the grooves 65 and S8. The extension section may be moved to its fully extended position so as to approximately double the space within the body portion, or it may be moved to any intermediate position, and be locked in its several positions by means of the latch or latches I45. With the back rest in position this provides a compartment to the rear of the infant which may be used for receiving bundles or packages as when the mother is required to take the infant with her on shopping trips. When the extension section is thus drawn outwardly with respect to the seat section the center of gravity of the body portion is of course displaced rearwardly, and to restore the proper balance to the extended body portion, when the package space is empty and again when packages are placed therein, the body portion may be readily moved in a fore and aft direction so as to reposition its axis of suspension with respect to the center of gravity.

The construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 enables the axis of suspension to be relocated by simply tilting the frame rearwardly until the body portion, which remains in horizontal position because of its pivotal suspension, has its bottom engaged with the floor or ground, after which a slight further movement of the frame will disengage the pivot portions Iii from their sockets i5, whereupon the frame may be rolled lengthwise of the body portion with the pivot portions 5! moving in the grooves it until the pivots are apparently over the center of gravity. Then the portions 5| may be engaged in the overlying recesses l5 and the body portion lifted slightly from the ground to determine if the axis of suspension 13 has been properly located with respect to the center of gravity of the body portion with its contents. If the first trial proves to be inaccurate the axis of suspension may be further adjusted by repeating the operation until, when the frame is moved forwardly to normal position of operation, the body portion is properly balanced and remains in a substantially horizontal posi-v tion. Thereby the axis of suspension may be easily and quickly adjusted from time to time as additional packages are added to the extension space.

The extension section may also be drawn out to the desired amount and the back rest removed, in which event the body portion becomes a buggy in which the infant may be laid horizontally, and if desired the back rest may be disposed on top of the seat section as heretofore explained to constitute a sunshade. When the apparatus is stationary the body portion as so converted becomes a babys bed, or it may be used as a cradle for movement around the suspension afforded by the pivots ii. In this condition the panel Sid may be located at the forward end of the body portion to constitute a headboard and the end panel of the extension section may be reversed to extend th length with the wall I39 forming a foctooard. With the back rest removed the body portion, whether or not extended, also provides a container mounted on wheels that may be used for transporting packages or other articles, for example to constitute a shoppers cart.

The body portion also has a variety of uses when detached from the frame it. When the cover iiii is removed, the seat section may be placed on a toilet to provide a childs toilet seat. By applying the attachment of Fig. 7 it becomes a childs seat that can be positioned on any convenient support, as the rear of an automobile seat or the back of an adult chair. When the extension section is drawn out with respect to the seat section it constitutes a babys bed or bassinet, and when so converted the tray I29 may be mounted on the buffer rod I63, or on the tie rod 537, to provide a shelf for the convenient receipt of toilet articles.

Therefore, an apparatus has been provided which may be readily converted to subserve the various purposes hereinabove first pointed out, and it will be observed that no tools are required to effect any of the foregoing conversions, but all may be effected by simple manipulation that requires no special skill. When the apparatus is resting on the wheels it and the center of gravity under the several conditions of conversion is well inside of the four-point support afforded by said wheels so that the apparatus is at all times highly stable, and the likelihood of the apparatus being upset is minimized. At the same time the apparatus is of relatively Sisple construction so that it can be fabricated at moderate cost, and it is strong and durable so that it will withstand the various usages to which it can be put.

While the embodiment of the invention illustrated on the drawings has been described with considerable particularity it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not restricted thereto as the same may receive a variety of mechanical expressions as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art, while changes may be made in the details of construction, connection, adjustment, etc, parts may be replaced by equivalent parts, certain features though prevferred for maximum utility may be omitted where fewer conditions of conversion are desired, and different materials, shapes, forms of construction, etc., may be used in fabricating the component parts, all Without departing from the spirit of this invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims a definition of said invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In anapparatus of the character described. a frame comprising base and handle portion, front and rear wheels mounted on said base portion, a pair of aligned pivotal supports mounted on opposed sides of said handle portion, and a body portion providing a seat and having adjacent its top a series of aligned sockets at its oppositesides to receive said pivotal supports and provide a pivotal suspension on which said body portion remains balanced as said frame is tilted on said rear wheels, said frame being bent inwardly. between said base portion and said handle portion to dispose the axis of said pivotal supports at least in the neighborhood of the center of gravity ofsaid frame.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame comprising base and handle portions, front and rear wheels mounted on said base portion, a pair of aligned pivotal supports mounted on opposed sides of said handle portion, and a body portion providing a seat and having adiacent its top longitudinally aligned sockets at its opposite sides to receive said pivotal supports and provide a, pivotal suspension on which said body portion remains balanced as said frame is tilted on said rear wheels, said frame also including a brace rod connecting the sides of said handle portion and disposed above said pivotal supports and said body portion having notched side members for engagement with said brace rod and said pivotal supports to support said seat rigidly as a high chair.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame comprising base and handle portions, front and rear wheels mounted on said base portion, a pair of aligned pivotal supports mounted on opposed sides of said handle portion, and a body portion providing a seat and having adiacent its top a series of aligned sockets at its opposite sides to receive said pivotal supports and provide a pivotal suspension on which said body portion is balanced as said frame is tilted on said rear wheels, said body portion also including a back rest, means for mounting said back rest pivotally adjacent its lower edge at any one of a plurality of positions in a, fore and aft direction of the seat and means for looking the upper por tion of said back rest in any one of a plurality of fore and aft positions.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame comprising base and handle portions, multiple aligned and downwardly inclined front wheels disposed at the forward extremity of said base portion, a pair of rear wheels mounted on said base portion, a, pair of aligned. pivotal supports mounted on opposed. sides of said handle portion, and a body portion providing a seat and having adjacent its top rows of aligned sockets at its opposite sides to receive said pivotal supports and provide a pivotal suspension on which said body portion is balanced as said frame is tilted on said rear wheels, said frame also including a brace rod connecting the sides of said handle portion and disposed above said pivotal supports and said body portions-having notched side members for engagement with said brace rod and said pivotal supports, and said body portion also inclding a bumper rod and a tray provided with hooked extensions engaging said bumper rod and lugs engaging the sides of said body portion to re tain the tray in horizontal position.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame comprising base and handle portions, a series of pairs of small wheels lying in a downwardly inclined plane disposed at the opposite sides of the forward extremity of said base portion, single rear wheels mounted on said base portion, cross supports connecting the sides of said base portion at its front end, a pair of aligned pivotal supports mounted on opposed sides of said handle portion, and a, body portion providing a seat and having adjacent its top a number of aligned sockets at its opposite sides to receive said pivotal supports and provide a pivotal suspension on which said body portion is balanced as said frame is tilted on said rear wheels, said body portion being readily removable from said pivotal supports to convert said wheeled frame into a hand truck.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame comprising base and handle portions, a pair of large wheels mounted on said base portion adjacent its junction with said handle portion, two or more pairs of small wheels at the opposite end of said base portion and forming with said large wheels a four-point support for said frame, a stub shaft on which each of said large Wheels is mounted exteriorly of said frame, a pivotally mounted crank carrying each stub shaft, a spring reacting between each stub shaft and a fixed part of the frame, a pair of aligned a.)

pivotal supports mounted on opposed sides of said handle portion, and a body portion providing a seat and having adjacent its top a series of longitudinally disposed aligned sockets at its opposite sides to receive said pivotal supports and provide a pivotal suspension on which said body portion is balanced as said frame is tilted on said large wheels.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame having a base portion and a handle portion, a series of pairs of downwardly inclined small wheels disposed at the forward extremity of said base portion, single rear wheels mounted on said base portion, a pair of aligned pivotal supports mounted on opposed sides of said handle portion, a body portion having side frames and a bottom panel to constitute a seat, and members mounted on said side frames adjacent the top of said body portion and providing a plurality of pairs of aligned recesses any pair of which may be engaged with said pivotal supports to provide an adjustable pivotal suspension on which said body portion may be balanced under varying loads as said frame is tilted on said rear wheels.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame having a base portion and a handle portion, multiple pairs of front wheels mounted at the forward extremity of said base portion, single rear wheels mounted on said base portion, a, pair of aligned pivotal supports mounted on opposed sides of said handle portion, a body portion having side frames and a bottom panel to constitute a seat, and members mounted on said side frames adjacent the top'of said body portion for cooperation with said pivotal supports, each of said members including longitudinally extending groove to receive a pivotal support slidably therein and the upper Walls of said grooves being provided with a plurality of pairs of aligned recesses for engagement with said pivotal supports to provide an adjustable pivotal suspension on which said body portion may be balanced under varying loads as said frame is tilted on rear wheels.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame having a base portion and a handle portion, three pairs of aligned front wheels mounted on the forward extremity of said base portion, rear wheels mounted on said base portion, a pair of aligned pivotal supports mounted on opposed sides of said handle portion, a body portion having side frames and a bottom panel to constitute a seat, and members mounted on said side frames adjacent the top of said body portion, for cooperation with said pivotal supports, each of said members including a longitudinally extending groove to receive a pivotal support slidably therein and the upper walls of said grooves being provided with a plurality of pairs of aligned recesses for engagement with said pivotal supports to provide an adjustable pivotal suspension on which said body portion may remain balanced under varying loads, said handle portion of said frame being open to permit the lowering of said body portion to the ground therethrough when said frame is tilted rearwardly whereby with said body portion resting on the ground the pivotal supports may be disengaged from their cooperating recesses, moved lengthwise of said grooves by the rolling of the frames and reengaged with other recesses to rebalance said body portion.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame having base portion and a handle portion, angularly disposed pairs or" small front wheels mounted on the forward extremity of said base portion, single rear wheels mounted on said base portion, a pair of aligned pivotal supports mounted on opposed sides of said handle portion, a body portion having side frames and a bottom panel to constitute a seat, and members mounted on said side frames adjacent the top of said body portion and including sockets cooperatin with said pivotal supports to provide an adjustable pivotal suspension for said body portion, said body portion also including a pivotally mounted back rest and said members having notches at their upper faces, and a member cooperating with said back rest and engageable in said notches for locking said back rest in different positions.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame having a base portion and a handle portion, multiple pairs of front wheels mounted on the forward extremity of said base portion, single rear wheels mounted on said base portion, a pair of aligned pivotal supports mounted on opposed sides of said handl portion, a body portion having side frames and a bottom panel to constitute a seat, members mounted on said side frames adjacent the top of said body portion and including a series of sockets coopcrating with said pivotal supports to provide an adjustable pivotal suspension for said body portion, said body portion also including a back rest, means on said back rest adjacent the lower edge thereof and cooperating with the sides of said body portion for adjusting the position of the lower edge of said back rest, said members having notches at their upper faces, and a member cooperating with the upper portion of said back rest and engageabie in said notches for locking said back rest in different adjusted positions.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame having base portion and a handle portion, multiple pairs of small wheels angularly disposed at the forward extremity of said base portion, single large rear wheels mounted on said base portion, a pair of aligned pivotal supports mounted on opposed sides of said handle portion, a body portion including a seat section having side frames and a bottom panel to constitute a seat, a series of socket members mounted on said side frames adjacent the top of said body portion and including means cooperating with said pivotal supports to provide an adjustable pivotal suspension for said body portion, an extension section including side frames and a bottom panel, the side frames of said seat section and said extension section having cooperating ribs and grooves for slidably supporting said extension section on said seat section for movement outwardly with respect to said seat section to different degrees of extension, and means for locking said extension section in its various positions of extension.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame having a, base portion and a handle portion, pairs of front wheels mounted at the forward extremity of said base portion, single large rear wheels mounted on said base portion, a pair of aligned pivotal supports mounted on opposed sides of said handle portion, a body portion including a seat section having side frames and a bottom panel to constitute a seat, members mounted on said side frames adjacent the top of said body portion and including sockets cooperating with said pivotal supports to provide an adjustable pivotal suspension for said body portion, an extension section including side frames and a bottom panel, the side frames of said body portion and said extension section having cooperating ribs and grooves for slidably supporting said extension section for movement outwardly with respect to said seat section to different degrees of extension, and a removable partition between said seat and extension sections and provided with means for securing the same in said body portion or for engagement with said first named members to provide a shade over said body portion.

14. In an apparatus of the character described,

a frame comprising base and handleportions, front and rear wheels mounted on said base portion, a pair of aligned pivotal supports mounted on opposed sides of said handle portion and extending inwardly therefrom, a body member providing a seat and upwardly extending sides having aligned along their opposite upper edges parallel socket brackets having a series of semicylindrical sockets receiving said pivotal supports and providing variable pivotal suspension on which said body portion is balanced as said frame is tilted.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, a rectangular open body member having side walls defining the lateral extremities of said body member, socket brackets affixed along the upper edges of said side walls each having a series of semicylindrical, aligned sockets disposed at right angles to the planes of said side walls, for the adjustable reception of pivotal supports to provide a Variable pivotal suspension by which said body member may be supported.

ROGER LAUFER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 419,116 Fetty Jan. 7, 1890 679,312 Harmon July 30, 1901 796,616 Thompson Aug. 8, 1905 857,696 Weinstein June 25, 1907 949,421 Francis Feb. 15, 1910 952,648 Stone Mar. 22, 1910 1,706,253 Raymond Mar. 19, 1929 1,729,055 Specter Sept. 24, 1929 1,832,523 Berger Nov. 17, 1931 1,868,193 Chambers et a1. July 19, 1932 1,980,210 Kroll Nov. 13, 1934 2,318,125 Snyder May 4, 1943 2,474,964 White July 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 124,675 Austria Sept. 25, 1931 590,180 France June 12, 1925 230,308 Germany Jan. 17, 1911 

